ICAPP makes clear Dhaka's stand on Rohingya issue

ICAPP vice chairman Abdul Matin Khasru has made clear Bangladesh's stand on the Rohingya issue that Dhaka would not accept any more Rohingya refugee, reports BSS.

"Bangladesh could no longer afford to accept any more Rohingya refugee from Myanmar," Mr Matin, also MP and Awami League law secretary, said while holding meetings with top leaders of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD) during their visit to Myanmar from September 11-13.

The delegation held meetings with NLD Chairman and Member of Myanmar Parliament Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar parliament speaker Thura U Shwe Mann and USDP Secretary General U Htay Oo in Myanmar's new capital Nay Pyi Taw.

During the meeting with Suu Kyi, the Special Mission of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) congratulated Aung San Suu Kyi on her party's victory in the last by-elections and especially on her becoming MP of Myanmar. 

During the meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, Mr Matin informed her about Bangladesh's position about preventing the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. 

"They are neither recognised by Myanmar nor Bangladesh as their citizens and they are now stateless in the world of God", he said. 

Mr Matin appreciated the actions and measures being taken by Myanmar in the Rakhine state and also Kyi's statement regarding the need for reviewing the Myanmar Citizenship Law of 1982. 

He hoped that the untold miseries of these stateless people of the Rakhine state would lessen to a great extent on review of the citizenship law and action taken thereafter,. 

He conveyed greetings of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and invited her (Suu Kyi) on behalf of the Bangladesh premier to visit Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi also stated that she was very concerned about the situation in the Rakhine state, especially because it had been happening from time to time. 

She felt the need for looking at such untoward events pragmatically and for taking practical measures including the need for justice being done to all. 

Mentioning the porous border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, she stressed the need for ensuring more vigilance and security at the borders to prevent cross-border movement.